Osteospermum plant named ‘DEL COM YS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Osteospermum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by small daisy type inflorescences, freely flowering, compact growth habit, creamy white inflorescences with a creamy yellow underside and a gray-green center and a high heat tolerance.

Latin name of the genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Variety denomination: ‘DEL COM YS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘DEL COM YS’ is a product of open pollination in a heterogeneous population of Osteospermum mass selection in 2004. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Markus Schmulling in June 2005 in Billerbeck, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DEL COM YS’ by cuttings from adventitious shoots was performed in Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DEL COM YS’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DEL COM YS’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DEL COM YS’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum cultivar:

-   -   1. Small daisy type inflorescences;     -   2. Freely flowering, compact growth habit;     -   3. Creamy white inflorescences with a creamy yellow underside         and gray-green center; and     -   4. High heat tolerance.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent selections in growth habit and size, inflorescence size and level of heat tolerance.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘WC 32/44’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,914), ‘DEL COM YS’ is shorter but wider and has a longer internode length. Additionally, ‘DEL COM YS’ has a longer inflorescence longevity and a higher heat tolerance. Finally, the ray florets of ‘DEL COM YS’ are a creamier yellow and the disc florets are a darker gray-green.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DEL COM YS’ grown in an outdoor garden. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DEL COM YS’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of January through June in an outdoor garden. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis cultivar ‘DEL COM     YS.’ -   Commercial classification: Garden-type Osteospermum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 10 to 14 days at approximately 22° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, outwardly spreading herbaceous perennial. -   Height: Approximately 35 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 88 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium. -   Branching characteristics: Free Branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 28 cm. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 98. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 137 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 3.8 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 1.6 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Abruptly acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Entire with occasional tiny serrations.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 137A. Young             foliage under side: Near Green 137C. Mature foliage upper             side: Near Green 137A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green             137C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near             Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near Green 143C. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 143C.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with continuous blooming from spring through             autumn and year round in a greenhouse environment.         -   Inflorescence form.—Daisy.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout February to             September in temperate regions.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately             13.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 4.75 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 6 to 10             days; longevity of individual flowers are very dependent on             temperature and light conditions.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—23, in one             or two whorls.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—Slightly cupped, facing upward or outward.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Average length.—Approximately 2.4 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Orange-White             159D. Upper surface at maturity: Near Yellow-White 158D.             Upper surface at fading: Near Yellow-White 158D. Under             surface at first opening: Near Greyed-Yellow 160B. Under             surface at maturity: Near Greyed-Yellow 160A. Under surface             at fading: Near Greyed-Yellow 160B. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 63.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Apex.—Five-pointed.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Greyed-Green 191C. At             maturity: Slightly darker than Greyed-Yellow 160D. At             fading: Near Greyed-Yellow 160D. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Between 8.7 and 11.6 cm.         -   Angle.—Terminal peduncles, erect; secondary and tertiary             peduncles, about 45° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Yellow-Green 144A.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Form.—Elliptic.         -   Color.—Near Green 138A. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 20.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Yellow-Green 144A. Under side: Near             Yellow-Green 144B.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Number of stamens: 5.     Anther shape: Linear. Anther length: Approximately 1.2 mm. Anther     color: Near Greyed-Yellow 162B. Amount of pollen: Minimal. Pollen     color: Near Greyed-Orange 167B.     -   -   Gynoecium.—Present on ray and disc florets. Pistil number:             One. Pistil length: Approximately 3 mm. Stigma shape: Two             parted. Stigma length: Approximately 1 mm. Stigma color:             Near Greyed-Yellow 160B. Style length: Approximately 1 mm.             Style color: Near Yellow-White 158D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Plants are moderately drought     tolerant. Plants need cold, less than 12.8° C. for flower induction. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘DEL COM YS’ as herein illustrated and described. 